Famous Sapphire Stars

When we talk about engagement rings, there is no doubt that the sapphire engagement ring is one of the most talked about and desired pieces on the market today. They look stunning whether they're paired with a simple women's wedding ring or a complex design.

Popularised by the British Royal Family, first when Prince Charles presented a stunning to the late Lady Diana Spencer, the world was captivated. When shopping for engagement rings in Brisbane, it is ideal to ensure that you are aware of the different types of sapphires available. Although there exists a variety of sapphire colours, there is a notable variant called the star sapphire. Here are three famous star sapphires that currently exist today.

Star of Bombay

Discovered in Sri Lanka, the Star of Bombay weighs an impressive 182 carats. It follows a cabochon cut, coupled with the dome shape – it is called a star as there is an asterisk shape that extends downwards within the gemstone. The Star of Bombay was set within a ring and given to actress Mary Pickford by her husband Douglas Fairbanks Snr who purchased the ring from the company Trabert and Hoffere Inc. In 1979, before her death, Mary Pickford bequeathed the stone to the Smithsonian Museum where it continues to reside to date.

Star of Adam

Bringing in acclaim as the most significant sapphire in the entire world, the Star of Adam is a sapphire that weighs a fantastic 1404.49 carats. Towards the left-hand side of the stone, there is a large white asterisk, present in all sapphires which bare the star moniker. Discovered in Ratnapura in southern Sri Lanka in 2015, the sapphire is said to be worth over 300 million dollars.

Black Star of Queensland

Previously owning the status as the world’s largest sapphire, the Black Star of Queensland was said to have been discovered by a 12-year-old Roy Spencer in the mid-1930’s. For over a decade it stood as a doorstop, as Roy’s father Harry Spencer had merely dismissed it as a worthless black crystal. However as his understanding grew, over a decade later he re-examined the stone, realising it was, in fact, a black sapphire. At the time, the sapphire weighed an impressive 1156 carats, however upon its sale in 1947 to Harry Kazanjian for $18 000 it was then cut into an oval cabochon, later weighing 733 carats.